All thirteen actors in "In the Boat Theatre Company" have learning disabilities. This makes their performances very real and at times touching. They have choreographed the dance routines, created the drama, directed mini film excerpts and constructed and manipulated the puppets themselves.
Mary Turner directs and is assisted by four others without disabilities: Lee Sass with the wonderful costumes, Dawdson Teixeira with the clever use of lighting to illuminate the puppets in total darkness, Val Regan writing the heart wrenching tunes a
nd Tom Hofer assisting with puppets.
The play explores the hopes and fears of four characters as they go through life and end in Paradise, synonymous with death. The play is jam packed with metaphors, some subtle, some in your face. Captain Love (Ben Baker) collects his next four victims to take to Paradise. They are unsure at first but he charms them with exemplary dancing and a little flirtation. This seems more comforting than the Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse.
There is a beautifully shot mini-film of one of the characters comforted in heaven by two angels.
Some of it is down right surreal. Glowing puppets with eerie singing. Skeletons dancing together and brides cavorting with Mr Smooth, Captain Love. The characters are having some flamboyant dreams to cope with their fears.
Soon they arrive and a carnival a la Mexican Day of the Dead ensues. Watch out for Ben Baker's dancing tummy, Susan Harris's cleaner who is waiting for heaven and a fine
Singing turn from Marie O' Brian. Pictures of students with learning disabilities in workshops are provided by david shapiro photography.
Stephen Grigg
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